Tom Polakis
Packing for a trip to a relative’s house is never easy. Odds are, you’ve made the trip enough times that you have a mental list of what to pack and what to leave behind. But if you’re making your first trip to a star party, you may not know just what to bring with you.
Tom Polakis
Astronomy contributing editor Tom Polakis visits star parties as often as he visits relatives, so his supply list is well memorized. To ease the preparation for your first star party, Polakis offers the following tips of what to bring with you and what to leave at home. He emphasizes that all lists are subjective to an individual’s own taste, so use this list as a general suggestion.
Listed below is a quick guide of the items needed (and not needed) for attendees of the Oregon Star Party.The OSP is located in a quiet ponderosa pine forest for camping. A more comprehensive list of star party necessities can be found on astrophotographer Jerry Lodriguss’s web site.
What not to bring:
Laser pointers: They were banned at the OSP as soon as they became popular.
White flashlights: Because this is an observer’s star party, this policy typically is self-enforced.
What to bring:
Lip balm
Hat
Sunglasses
Red flashlights
Batteries
Sky maps/atlases
Money for the snacks/espresso stand
Camping supplies
Note: The location of the OSP gets desert dry during the day and desert cool in the evening. The temperature changes drastically between the day and night, so be sure to pack accordingly.
